Chapter 67 (1/2)

“But I have a question.”

The boys were complaining about filling their stomachs with fruit, right after eating more than half the box of tangerines Sajun had brought.

Myohan, who was chewing a piece of tangerine O Shin had given him, turned to the wide-eyed Miho.

“Why are you all helping him find the twelve zodiac animals?”

“They aren’t exactly helping,”

Myohan couldn’t help muttering so. He got a number of fierce gazes in return, but he really meant it and the boys couldn’t argue with him. Well, they weren’t helping at all. That was a fact. Myohan’s cat struggled to climb onto his lap and sat down.

“Of course it’s because I had a crush on…”

“Cheong, you can’t throw fruit at him!”

“Let me go!”

Sajun, who said something first, grinned and raised both his hands in surrender as Myo Cheong picked up another tangerine angrily. Jagyeom tutted and rubbed his chin. At first, he had been forced to help, but at the moment he couldn’t even remember that.

“He threatened me with something…”

“I didn’t, don’t feel like that, rat.”

“Don’t call me that!”

Myohan chuckled as he helped himself with another tangerine. O Shin peeled another one and placed it in front of him.

“Turning into a rabbit once was enough… Shit, I hate it,” Myo Cheong said with a frown. Then he recalled the unhappy event and sadly buried his face in his hands. They could almost see his rabbit ears drooping. Jino patted his shoulder, but then he ended up getting a blow after saying, “But you’re cute when you turn into…”

“As for me!”

Sinsul, who had been listening quietly, raised a hand with shining eyes. He looked excited, like a child about to do a show-and-tell, so Myohan cut him short.

“I’m not playing soccer with you.”

“Oh, but why?”

“Somebody, please play soccer with him.”

“Jagyeom, how about…?”

“No.”

After being rejected twice, Sinsul became sad. Then he crouched down in a corner and started murmuring about how everyone was ultimately alone. Myohan gave him no attention, of course, and looked straight at Miho. He seemed dazed by those meaningless answers.

“Then why are you with me?”

He didn’t ask why he was helping with finding the twelve zodiac animals. Miho blinked, and then he looked away.

“I…”

Myohan could see why he was asking. He was wondering why everyone was there. He felt out of place as he was there without any solid reason.

Jagyeom saw his hesitation and let out a small sigh.

“There’s no reason for helping…”

“I told you, none of you is of any help.”

“…Hanging out together.”

“Right.”

Jagyeom gave Myohan a hard gaze, but he just looked back. Jagyeom frowned.

Sajun grinned and agreed with Jagyeom.

“People are always befriending complete strangers, and it was even easier for us to be close as we have one thing in common; we’re all animals.”

It made sense, which wasn’t like him. Even Myo Cheong nodded to that. His blushing cheeks indicated he was feeling embarrassed. Sinsul, who had regained his cheerfulness in no time, went and placed an arm around Miho’s shoulders.

“That’s why you’re going to play soccer with me!”

“That’s why? What does it have to do with that?”

“Miho and I are friends, which means we have to play soccer together!”

“And what about Miho’s opinion?”

Myohan snorted. Sinsul gave Miho his wide puppy eyes, begging him to say they were friends. Miho blinked, but then he smiled. It was a shy smile he had never shown them before.

“Yes, we’re friends.”

The cat curled up on Myohan’s lap and closed its eyes. O Shin smiled as he looked at it.

They left only after having dinner together. After they were gone, saying they would meet again at school the day after, emptiness took their place. The wide living room was way too big for Myohan to use alone.

“You look lonely.”